Persistence Of Memory Essays - The Persistence Of Memory

Persistence Of Memory "Persistence of Memory" by Salvador Dali is one his most distinguished works. It is an Oil on Canvas 9 1/2" x 13" and was painted in 1931. Dali uses many types of media in this picture to portray the imagery he was looking for. The First media I recognized was chiaroscuro. The artwork starts from a bright white and blue in the top left hand corner and ends up fading into darkness. There is a large figure with a clock draped over it right before the fade to darkness which may symbolize a time in the artists life in which he was feeling that his memories were fading and falling into blackness. The Second media I noticed was trompe l'oeil. This was most noticed with the seemingly melted watches representing time or memory draping off a table and a tree. It is really a barren landscape with 4 clocks, a table, fake tree, a blue rectangular mass, and some mountains in the background. I suppose he is trying to symbolize his thoughts and memories and how he was feeling about them at that moment. This artwork consists of a mostly cool color scheme with one instance of warm. There is a red clock in the bottom left hand corner that does seem to stick out with the effect of red and black it uses. That also is covered with ants that look like they are eating which may symbolize some type of eating away at a memory he had. The cool colors are the sky and 3 of the clocks while the warm is 1 clock and the base of the mountain. The rest of the landscape is a very neutral brown and black. Persistence of Memory also exhibits a kind of atmospheric/linear perspective. The objects in the front of the piece, the tree, clocks, table, figure, are most noticeable with detail and it seems like those are the objects the artist wants you to be most familiar with relative to the mountains, sky, and ocean in the distance which really are not that symbolic in this picture. They are of less focus than the melted clocks. Dali was a noted Surrealist and this picture may have been his greatest in that era. He was a man that could put photorealistic images on a canvas. His surrealist era was influenced by a famous psychologist which led him to explore his own fears and fantasies. In 1934 Dali was expelled from the Surrealist group due to the world war and his supposed crazy ideas. I chose this artwork because of Dali's intense, illusionistic style. He was a great artist and a man not ashamed to show how he felt. He wanted to explore his fears and fantasies and express them through artwork which gives me the sense that he had great pride. I feel this piece is very important to the surrealist artworld as it is a perfect example of Dali's realistically dreamlike content. Dali was expelled from his surrealist group in 1934 and responded as follows " the difference between me and the surrealists is that I am surrealism.

Christmas Traditions Explained for ESL Class

Christmas Traditions Explained for ESL Class Christmas is one of the most important holidays in the English speaking world. There are many Christmas traditions in these countries. The traditions are both religious and secular in nature. Here is a short guide to the most common Christmas traditions. What Does the Word Christmas Mean? The word Christmas is taken from Christs Mass or, in the original Latin, Cristes maesse. Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus on this day. Is Christmas Only a Religious Holiday? Certainly, for practicing Christians around the world, Christmas is one the most important holiday of the year. However, in modern times, traditional Christmas festivities have become much less related to the Christ story. Examples of these other traditions include Santa Claus, Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer, and others. Why Is Christmas so Important? There are two reasons: 1. There are approximately 1.8 billion Christians in a total world population of 5.5 billion, making it the largest religion worldwide. 2. And, some think more importantly, Christmas is the most important shopping event of the year. It is claimed that up to 70 percent of many merchants annual revenue is made during the Christmas season. It is interesting to note that this emphasis on spending is relatively modern. Christmas was a relatively quiet holiday in the USA until the 1860s. Why Do People Give Gifts on Christmas Day? This tradition most probably is based on the story of the three wise men (the Magi) giving gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh following the birth of Jesus. However, it is important to note that gift giving has only become popular in the last 100 years as figures such as Santa Claus have come to be more important, and emphasis has been shifted to giving gifts to children. Why Is There a Christmas Tree? This tradition was begun in Germany. German immigrants moving to England and the USA brought this popular tradition with them and it has since become a much-loved tradition for all. Where Does the Nativity Scene Come From? The Nativity Scene is accredited to Saint Francis of Assissi in order to teach people about the Christmas story. Nativity Scenes are popular around the world, especially in Naples, Italy that is famous for its beautiful Nativity Scenes. Is Santa Claus Really St. Nicholas? Modern day Santa Claus has very little to do with St. Nicholas, though there are certainly similarities in the style of dressing. Today, Santa Claus is all about the presents, whereas St. Nicholas was a Catholic saint. Apparently, the story Twas the Night before Christmas  has a lot to do with changing St. Nick into modern day Santa Claus. Christmas Traditions Exercises Teachers can use this Christmas traditions reading in class to help start a conversation on how Christmas traditions are different around the world, and whether traditions have changed in their own countries.

World's religions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

World's religions - Essay Example While Christianity uses specific ways that may not necessarily work for everyone. It looks at four paths to the goal. The first one is way to God through love. The strongest emotion that crowds human heart is love. The bhakti-yoga seeks to direct people to God’s love that is in every human heart. Through this, the Indians are able to know the Supreme Being. The same Bhakti principles have been incorporated into Christianity. This path talks about loving God in fact not just claiming to love God (Smith 1-3). The next path to God is through work. This can be explained using the karma yoga. Karma yoga involves achieving perfection in one’s action. Work keeps people occupied. In Christianity, lazy people are often criticized while in Hinduism it states that one does not have to retire work so as to realize God. Realizing God can be done in our everyday activities. The other path is through psychophysical exercises. This is explained by Raja yoga, which is yoga for the mind. It involves claiming the mind to concentrate on one point. Hinduism shows there is a connection between science and God. In conclusion, what the Hinduism tries to bring out is seeking God is not a complex thing. It shows us we can seek God in our day to day activities. It goes ahead to show how we can realize Gods will in all areas. All in all, the same concepts are applied to

Shorthand Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Shorthand - Essay Example h out loud’ whereas ‘b4’ stands for ‘before.’ Shorthand messaging usually hinders smooth communication between persons of different generations, especially between teenage students and middle-aged teachers in schools (Lenore, 2012). In this context, a section of the languages fraternity discourages the use of shorthand messaging while the other portion encourages the communication behavior. Personally, I am fond of shorthand messaging. Not only would I encourage the young generation to use shorthand messaging, but I would also provide a nurturing environment for the shorthand communication culture to blossom. Conservatives who are against the use of shorthand writing allege that abbreviations in communication are an outright assault on formal English. However, I am of the opinion that shorthand messaging is a natural evolution of English language. Undeniably, today’s formal English is substantially different from the formal English used in Shakespearian times. Language is a dynamic cultural component that evolves naturally with time (Lenore, 2012). Therefore, restricting the use of shorthand communication is an outright assault on cultural dynamism. In addition, I believe that language is a medium of expression; a channel through which one’s ideas and thoughts are documented. Instant messaging technologies today provide a means through which young people expresses themselves in a comfortable and simplified manner. Teachers hate to embrace the fact that teenagers in school would shallowly express themselves were they to use formal writing in class work (Lenore, 2012). For ex ample, use of a frowning face at the end of an argument signifies presence of a counter-argument. Whenever shorthand communications are restricted, students fail to present their arguments wholly, partly because they are not accustomed to formal writing, and also because they are innately uncomfortable with dictates of language conservatisms. In conclusion, it emerges that

Employment and Discrimination Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Employment and Discrimination Law - Essay Example These laws are called the employment laws and they have proved effective in enhancing proper business conduct within the business world. Some of these laws which have been in place include those that govern employee dismissal, child labour, employee benefits and labour contracts among other contracts and their applications in various business enterprises have worked well in ensuring the well being of both the employers and their employees. In the course of business conduct, employee - employer relationship is crucial in determining the success of each of the two parties in the business world. However, sometimes achieving a cordial relationship becomes impossible with the eruption of personal issues that come in a day to day basis. This has sometimes led to discrimination and in this case it is the employee who suffers the brunt sometimes leaving the employer to go scot-free after committing some unfavourable and inhumane acts against his/her employee. The case of Anne is a similar one where she is forced to unfairly suffer the consequences of being in bad terms with her boss. Employer retaliation, like in Anne's case is an aspect of employment law in which a lot of emphasis has been put and attorneys have had to defend their clients in regular basis under such circumstances. As an attorney, I would consider Anne's case as a solid one and which she is capable of winning should she press legal charges against her employer. (Robert Hill, Nick Dent and Adam Lambert: Labour and Employment: United Kingdom: Associative Discrimination). Also According to The ACAS statutory Code of Practice on discipline and grievance, the proper procedure for disciplining Anne would not put her career at risk but to hold a meeting with her and discuss the issues. Her boss would be recommended to express his grievances directly to Anne after which he would make clear his decision to give poor reference to Anne which according to the law is not encouraged. In dealing with such a case, it is important to consider whether Anne's employer informed her of her employment rights as postulated in the labour law. This law which is concerned with the rights of employers demands that all employers should take charge and sensitize their employees considering the rights which they hold as workers in their workplace. Freedom from retaliation is one of the major subjects which are dealt with in this law. In a case whereby the employer had not informed Anne and maybe other employers of their rights as his employers, Anne should be able to sue him of that as the first offence committed against her by her employer. Anne would then go ahead and sue Jim, her boss for the offence of hindering her from exploring and obtaining other employment opportunities on grounds of unfounded accusations (Office of Public Sector Information (united kingdom) Employment Rights Act 1996, chapter 18). Jim has definitely committed an offence against Anne. With regard to the employment and labour law, Anne should seek legal redress since as an employees and a human being for that matter, she has her rights regarding the choice of how she relates with other individuals either within or without her office environment. In order to establish a concrete case against the crime of employer retaliation which Jim committed against

Ethics of Seal Clubbing in Canada

Ethics of Seal Clubbing in Canada Chet Merklin Jeff Smith Canadian Seal Clubbing Seals have it rough. They hunt for food, they eat, they nurture their young, they procreate, they sleep, and they survive. Their fate, however, isn’t really in their flippers at all. The true power rests with a species far more indecisive and far less furry than the seals over which it fights amongst itself. Fifty years ago, controversy between animal rights activist groups and Canadian sealers broke and has yet to cease over the hunting of seals in the Canadian northeast. It was thought to have been won though, for a while. Two decades after the protests began, the banishment of baby whitecoats (adolescent seal pups, swathed in white fur) was brought about by the European Economic Community in 1983, crippling the trade and putting on the mask of victory for the environmentalists who had fought for it so bitterly. That was it, the fight was over. This would be proven wrong twenty years later when the trade of older pup furs surpassed any other time thirty-five years previous. The Canadian seal hunt was back in full swing—and so were the environmentalists, battling for the rights of an animal seen as an object for exploitation by a species that doesn’t fully understand what the stakes of the argument it has with itself to this day are (Warne). Seal pups are brought up on the ice because it is critical for giving birth, nursing pups, and molting (Warne). This allows for other, less water-happy predators a window to attack these seals when they are most vulnerable. Because of this, when humans first landed in northeastern what-is-now Canada, they saw the seal as an unlimited resource for both fur and fat. Though the furs of seals didn’t come into style until the late 1940s, seals were hunted long before then. By 1972, the demand for seal fur was increasing inversely to the decreasing seal population, and the seals were dipping steadily in numbers. â€Å"In 1976, as debate over the hunt was heating up, seal scientist David Lavigne warned in this magazine that ‘the survival of the harp seal hangs in the balance’† (Warne). The ban was placed, the seal populations rose again, and the seal hunting ceased. When the seal hunt began to proliferate again nearing the turn of the century, so did the numbers o f supporters of the seal looking at how the hunt was actually conducted. â€Å"Todays modern seal hunt isnt really much of a hunt at all In fact, depending on the condition of the ice flows, the sealers can have varying degrees of difficulty in getting to the seals. Methods include: walking from their trucks, driving up to them with their snowmobiles, taking commercial icebreaking or smaller boats to close or distant ice flows, then getting out of the boats and walking to them, or shooting seals from the boats† (harpseals.org). Once seals are located, hunters typically approach the seals and kill them with a weapon called a ‘hakapik,’ a long stick-like tool with a hooked blade attached at the end. As described by opponents of the hunt on harpseals.org, the hunters then check to see if the animal has died before skinning it. â€Å"The DFO now instructs sealers to palpate the seals skull with an object (such as a rifle or hakapik) to assess whether it has been fatally crushed before proceeding to bleed and then skin the seal. So this means that, after clubbing the seal pup, the sealer with prod the seal on the head with a pole or hook or rifle barrel. This crude method of palpation is intended to enable the sealer to determine whether the seal is alive or conscious. And if the seal is still conscious, well, one can image how that would feel† (harpseals.org). In essence, though the seal is no longer under serious threat by the hunt, the brutality of the process is still viciously criticized by environmentalists on the side of the seals. On the proponent side of the argument stand fisherman and the sealers themselves. Fishermen are in direct competition with the seals when it comes to a wide variety of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. One main concern is the north-Atlantic cod harvest, greatly impacted since the return of seal populations. According to Canadian federal fisheries minister John Crosbie, â€Å"The predator-prey relationships between seals and capelin and between seals and cod are not fully understood, Crosbie said. However, the evidence that we have to date indicates that the unchecked growth of seal herds, particularly of harp seals, is harming the (northern) cod stock† (Gorham). This was stated in an article from 1992, and the issue still rests today. Ever since 1982, seal populations have gone unchecked and have ravaged populations many fishermen rely on for sustenance and a sole source of income. In addition to this, seal hunters respect restrictions and quotas as to the limits on how many se als they can bring home. The biggest concern when the ban on baby seals was implemented was that the seals might grow too rapidly in numbers. We believe that the Atlantic harp seal herd is now not only stable, but probably growing. The simple fact is that there is no possible chance that the animal is in any danger of extinction, and its ridiculous for anyone to suggest that it is in danger. My personal concern, at this time is that the herd might grow too much† (thesealfishery.com). Stated by Tom Hughes, Executive Vice-President of the Ontario Federation of Humane Societies in 1978, this quote applied to harp seals, numbering just under 2 million. Today, that number rests around 6 million. Personally, from the data I’ve been mulling over, the northeastern Canadian harp seal hunt is well regulated and scrutinized. In my opinion, the seal trade should continue, as it is an excellent governor of a system lacking in major predation already. I have no qualms with the continuation of the hunt, and believe that it should continue under current conditions, perhaps even increasing quotas with the increasing number of seals available. If anything, quotas should fluctuate evenly with population fluctuations of the harp seals themselves. From my perspective, the only discrepancy I can imagine with the hunt is the morality of the methods used to take the seals. According to three of the four sources I cited below, the tool used by hunters kills the seals almost immediately and is also handy for transporting seal carcasses and aiding in grip in case a hunter falls through the ice. So long as hunters correctly judge that the seal is truly dead before skinning it, I believe tha t the continuation of the seal hunt is justified and worth preservation. Works Cited An Introduction to the Canadian Seal Hunt. About the Seal Hunt. Harpseals.org, n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2014. Canadian Harp Seal Hunt A Pro Perspective. The Seal Fishery.com. Thesealfishery.com, n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2014. Gorham, Rob. Seal Controversy. Chronicle-Herald (Halifax, Canada). 18 Apr. 1992: C1+. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 21 Nov. 2014. Warne, Kennedy. Harp Seals: The Hunt for Balance. National Geographic. March 2004: 50-67. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 21 Nov. 2014.

General George S. Patton Jr. Essay -- essays research papers

General George Smith Patton Jr. was born November 11, 1885 in San Gabriel, California. He was known as a complicated man, and having an intemperate manner. He was also known for carrying his pistol with ivory handle. He always strived to train his troops to the highest standard of excellence. Patton always dreamed of being a hero. His ancestors had fought in many wars, and grew up listening to their stories. He attended the Virginia Military institute for one year and went on to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point on June 11, 1909. He was then commisioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 15th Cavalry Regiment. Patton got married to Beatrice Ayer, whom he dated while attending West Point, on May 26, 1910. Patton competed in the Stockholm Olympics in the first modern pentathlon in 1912. This was considered a rigorous test of the skills a soldier could possess. He was 26 at the time and did remarkably well in all the events which included, pistol shooting from 25 meters, sword fencing, a 300 meter free style swim, 800 meters horse back riding and a 4-kilometer cross-country run. Patton placed fifth overall. Patton started taking lessons at the French cavalry school, and learning French sword drills. Patton reported to the Mounted Service School in Fort Riley, Kansas, where he became the school's first Master of the Sword. He designed and taught a course in swordsmanship while he was a student at the school. Patton's first real exposure to battle took pl...